Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-18
EXPENSIVE TRIAL.
That of steptoe and wilson, of Roa.
noke-Ofhcr Notes.

EXPENSIVE TRIAL.
That of steptoe and wilson, OF Roa-
noke-Ofhcr Notes.
lCorrcspondonce Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
LYNCHBURG, February IL, 1887.
The case of the negroes Steptoe
and Wilson, charged with murder and
removed from Roanoke City to this
CITY. was continued yesterday, on mo-
ton of the defence, until the 4th OF
April ensuing, albeit at cost to the
Commonwealth Of 5000. The frequent
trials and mistrials in these cases are
likely 70 prove somewhat phenomenal
in the history of criminal prosecutions
in Virginia, while the cost to the
State is matter for serious
consideration. II will be remembered
that Lizzie Wilson, pretty and in
teresting young lady, the daughter of a
mechanic in Roanoke City, was foully
murdered within stono's-throw of her
home about nightfall on the day of the
last presidential election, her head be-
ing nearly severed from her'body. A
number of arrests were made, but No
clue that was thought to point to the
real culprits was obtained until about
seven months afterwards, when Step
toe and Wilson were arrested and
charged with the crime. After one, or
perhaps two continuances, Steptoe was
tried in Roanoke and the jury dis
agreed, being divided on the color line.
he was subsequently tried again at the
same place, with a like result. The
case was then sent to this city, and,
after one continuance, Steptoe was tried
at the last November term of the Hust-
ings Court, when the jury failed to
agree, being divided rs at Roanoke
CITY, on the color line-the whites be-
ing for murder in the first degree, while
the negroes, who composed in every
case about half the jury, were for ac-
auittal. The case was then set for trial
at the February term of the court,
now in session, on which occasion
twenty-eight witnesses for the prose-
cution and two for the defence
were present, all of them being
from Roanoke City and Salem, in
Roanoke county, a distance of be-
tween fifty and sixty miles, save one
from Page county. Whether the de
fence will he any nearer ready for trial
at that time remains to be determined.
Meanwhile the costs of mileage and at
tendance fees of witnesses is becoming
a serious affair, the trial in November
and this continuance amounting in
these two items alone within fraction
of $500, and which would have been
considerably more had the treasurer
not refused to pay the mileage
tickets for defendants witnesses at
the November trial, which the
Court peremptorily ordered the clerk
to certify. 1 have no means of ascer-
tanning the costs of the Roanoke trials
and continuances, but il is fair to as
sumo that, added to the Jail fees, board,
and transportation of prisoners to anc
from the jails of Wytheville, Salem,
Liberty, and Lynchburg, in all oil
which they have been confined, to-
gether with the expenses of the neces
sary officers, the sum will much more
than reach the aggregate of that al
Lynchburg, and still the courts seem
to be no nearer the solution of the pro.
blem of who murdered the unfortunate
girl than when these everlasting trials
began.
Judge Latham, while engaged II
quashing indictments In barristry ant
coupon cases, has, of his own volitior
and without the assistance of the Com
monwealth's attorney, summoned q spe
cial grand jury for to-day to consider
the question of presenting others than
those already presented for violating
the same coupon laws that he alleges to
be unconstitutional.
At an adjourned meeting OF the City
Council held last night the license tax
bill was submitted and passed. 1t pro
vides for an increase of the license tax
on nearly every business, and in some
instances the tax is largely increased
while the most rigid economy is re
commended in every department OF thu
CITY government, and but two perma
nent improvements are recommended
for the year. The tax on billiard-saloon
is increased from $40 to 500; on
bagatelle-tables, from SIS to $50, anC
on bowling-alleys from $40 to 800. Or
pawnbrokers the license tGXis increased
from $50 to $l00. On express
telegraph, and telephone companies
it is increased 1915. From every per
son dealing in lottery tickets or othe
tickets Of chance a license of 81, 200 i
exacted, and license of $500 frou
every person dealing in futures.
Wholesale hquor-dealers' licenses ar
increased from $500 to $500 retailers
$500 instead of 800 wholesale and re
tailers, 800 instead of 5000 bar-room
5000 instead of 800; bar-room ant
retail increased from 500 to $500
The property tax was raised from 81.
to $1.65.
AS appears from an announcement II
the Iirginian this morning, J. W
Sherman 4 Brother state that, beinl
unable to meet the indebtedness
upon that journal purchased b,
them from Mr.. Button sixteen month
ago, they will be forced to suspend
its publication. This practically com
pels Mr.. Button to resume the proper
ty, which he will at once do. While
Mr.. Button does not desire to ente
upon its editorial conduct he will, o
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